This large size 20 Civil Defence Corps battledress jacket sold on eBay recently for the astonishing price of £203 (plus shipping). I'm guessing the size was the key issue. It was badged up for the Ambulance service in the Staffordshire area but I imagine it may well be utilised for WW2 re-enacting. The accompanying Size 20 trousers went for a more sensible £51 (plus shipping). Clearly the most expensive post-war BD I have seen.
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Wearing bluette overalls with three red chevrons on his sleeve, this officer-in-charge of rescue parties stands amid the ruins of bombed buildings. Photograph has a date of October 1943. He also has dust goggles on his forehead. Very few examples of the ranks chevrons have survived (and many are often mistaken for similar long service chevrons issued by the Royal Navy). This author cannot say he has seen any guaranteed originals in hand.
A nice portrait of an ARP Warden from Newport in south Wales. Appears his area marking is the type with the dark blue cotton twill and black merrow edge previously discussed on this blog post.
Here's an absolutely cracking photo of two Civil Defence members (possibly at war's end). Of interest is the chap on the right and the location of his Incident Officer (I.O.) sleeve badge on the 'incorrect' arm. The official location was on the right sleeve but here we have the badge above the war service chevrons (looks like five red chevrons so backs up a possible stand down photograph). The gentleman also has two Instructor badges pinned to his collar; I have never seen that before. I cannot make out a badge on his side cap.
The first world war veteran on the left has two rank chevrons. The area title is for "Durham County". Not many examples of the ARP Pattern 61 Waterproof (Mackintosh) Cape have survived. This wonderful example was issued by Berkshire County Council and has a number of manufacture and stores ink stamps. There appears to have been an oval ARP badge on the item at one time. It is thought that the printed style ARP badge was glued to the cape to maintain its waterproof nature.
Thanks go to Michael Hodgson for sharing the images. |
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